Posted by Hilli on March 26, 2015

My two favorite food groups are coffee and cake, so clearly baking Lorraine Pascal's Simply Coffee, Vanilla & Walnut Cake has jumped straight to the top of my weekend priorities. Find this and a wealth of, ahem, a bit healthier recipes in her new cookbook, Everyday Easy.

Simply Coffee, Vanilla & Walnut Cake

One of the first cakes I ever ate was a simple coffee-flavored cake. No bells, no whistles, nothing fancy, simply coffee cake with a rich coffee buttercream. I have, however, played around with the recipe a bit and added whole wheat flour, which gives a tasty, nutty dimension to the sponge cake. But if you don’t have whole wheat flour in the cupboard, then just make this up with all-purpose flour instead for an equally appetizing cake.

++Preheat the oven to 350°F, and put the kettle on to boil (with just a small amount of water). Grease the bottom of two cake or tart pans with butter and line with baking parchment. Set them on a large baking sheet and set aside.

++First make the sponge cake. Put the coffee powder into a mug, using 1 tablespoon for a subtle coffee flavor or 3 tablespoons if you want to be awake for quite some time! For me, 3 is just right. Then add 1 tablespoon of hot water from the kettle for every tablespoon of coffee and mix until smooth. Finely chop half of the walnuts and set aside.

++Put the flours into a large bowl along with the sugar and baking powder and mix a bit to combine. Then add the butter, eggs, vanilla extract, prepared coffee and chopped walnuts (reserving the halves for decoration). Beat it hard until smooth and well combined. Divide the mixture evenly between the two pans and then pop them in the oven for around 25 minutes.

++About 5 minutes before the cake is ready, put the kettle on again for the coffee syrup. Spoon the coffee powder into the mug with the sugar and 2 tablespoons of hot water from the kettle. Stir until the sugar has dissolved and set aside.

++Check that the cakes are ready. A skewer inserted in the middle should come out clean. Return to the oven for another 5 or so minutes if not. Once ready, remove from the oven and brush liberally with the coffee sugar syrup to give a wonderfully soft sponge. Then leave the cakes for a few minutes until cool enough to handle. Carefully remove from the pans, peel off the paper and leave to cool completely on a wire rack.

++Cooling should take about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, make the buttercream. Sift the confectioners’ sugar into a large bowl. Add the butter and beat hard until light and fluffy. Blend the coffee powder in the mug with 1 tablespoon of hot water from the kettle and stir into the buttercream.

++Once the cakes have cooled, put one layer on a cake stand or serving plate and slather the top liberally with half of the buttercream. It will be a good thick layer. Place the other cake layer on top and slather the remaining buttercream over. Arrange the remaining walnuts on top. Totally yum.

Posted by Hilli on March 19, 2015

Sometimes you just need a little bit of homemade sweetness . . . and sometimes you just want a whole pie all to yourself. Try your hand at this delightful and distinctly Southern recipe for Orange Buttermilk Pie from Savannah bakers Cheryl and Griffith Day's new cookbook, Back in the Day Bakery Made with Love. We won't judge you if you don't feel like sharing.

Orange Buttermilk Pie
Serves 8

I created this pie in the middle of the winter, when clementines and satsuma oranges are in season. The flavor is simple and pure, and you can use any oranges that you like. Buttermilk is the key ingredient, so use the good stuff you can sometimes find in farmers’ markets if possible. I count on the old-fashioned buttermilk that we get from our friends at Southern Swiss Dairy to give this pie the old-timey flavor I recall from childhood.

1 prebaked Shortcut Piecrust (page 116), cooled

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs, separated

3 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon grated orange zest

2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature

1 recipe Fresh Whipped Cream (page 61)

Orange segments for garnish (optional)

Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 325°F. Place the baked pie shell on a baking sheet.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a large mixing bowl, using a handheld mixer), cream the butter and sugar for 3 to 5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks and mix well to combine. Add the flour, orange zest, orange juice, and salt and mix until well blended. With the mixer on low, slowly add the buttermilk, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. The mixture will look curdled at this point, but don’t worry. If using a stand mixer, transfer to a large bowl. Set aside.

In the clean mixer bowl, using the whisk attachment (or in a medium mixing bowl, using clean beaters), beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Give the buttermilk mixture a quick stir just to make sure that it is well blended, then add a small amount of the egg whites and fold in. Gently fold in the remaining egg whites until completely incorporated.

Pour the filling into the baked piecrust. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, until the filling is golden and puffed up at the edges and the center no longer looks wet but still wobbles slightly; it will continue to set as it cools. Remove the pie from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 2 to 3 hours.

Serve the pie at room temperature or chilled, with the whipped cream. Garnish with segments of orange, if you’d like. The pie can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 day or refrigerated for up to 2 days.

Posted by Hilli on March 12, 2015

Crispy, breaded chicken tenders are one of the ultimate comfort foods, but unfortunately the fried varieties are packed with fat and calories. British celebrity chef Lorraine Pascale understands this conundrum all too well, and her new cookbook Everyday Easy makes healthy recipes a priority, while offering creative ways to slash calories on just a few cheat meals. Try these oven-baked Crispy, Crunchy Chicken Strips with Honey Mustard Dip the next time you get a craving.

Crispy, Crunchy Chicken Strips with Honey Mustard Dip

Being a tactile person at heart, eating food with my fingers is pure luxury for me. I have a favorite surf-and-turf restaurant I frequent with the family and I regularly order their crispy chicken tenders for a starter. The piquant honey mustard dip has me getting right on in there with a spoon and eating up every last morsel.

Time from start to finish:
25 minutes
Serves: 4

Equipment: Baking tray, 2 wide, shallow bowls, small bowl

Vegetable oil (or spray oil)

2 medium eggs

4 oz (½ cup) dried plain breadcrumbs (or polenta)

1 tsp English mustard powder

2 stalks of fresh flat leaf parsley or thyme (optional)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 medium skinless, boneless chicken breasts

Honey mustard dip

½ cup mayonnaise

3 tbsp whole grain mustard

2 squeezes or dabs of honey

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 limes

++Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking tray with oil and set aside. I like to do this quickly with a spray oil.

++Crack the eggs into a wide, shallow bowl and beat lightly to bring together. Put the breadcrumbs (or polenta) and mustard powder into another wide, shallow bowl. Pick the leaves from the parsley or thyme and then finely chop them before tossing with the breadcrumbs and some salt and pepper.

++Cut each chicken breast lengthwise into three strips. Dip each piece into the egg, shaking off the excess, and then into the breadcrumbs to coat evenly. Arrange on the baking tray as you go. I tend to get in a sticky mess with this as the egg on my hands becomes coated with breadcrumbs, but the end result is so worth it.

++Bake in the oven for around 12 minutes, turning each piece of chicken over halfway through.

++Meanwhile, to make the dip, put the mayonnaise into a small bowl with the whole grain mustard and honey and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

++Cut the limes into quarters and add the juice of one piece to the dip, squeeze by squeeze, tasting as you go until you are happy. The lime lifts the dip’s flavors a little and gives a nice balance. Spoon the dip into a small serving bowl and place in the center of a large plate.

++Remove the chicken from the oven. When cooked, it should be piping hot in the center and crispy and golden brown on the outside.

++Arrange the chicken around the dip on a plate and serve with the remaining lime wedges.

Posted by Hilli on February 26, 2015

Quinoa is a satisfying and healthy alternative when you're craving a big bowl of pasta. Try this Quinoa Salad with Feta, Pomegranate and Pistachio from our February Top Pick in cookbooks, The Tucci Table, for a quick and filling meal or side dish that won't cost you extra time at the gym.

Quinoa Salad with Feta, Pomegranate and Pistachio

Felicity introduced me to this healthy alternative to pasta and bread—the staples of the Tucci family diet. Quinoa is a fantastic base to which so many other flavors can be added, like dates, avocado or grilled halloumi cheese. Nutty, delicious and good for you, this quinoa salad blends the sharpness of the feta, the sweetness of the pomegranate and the crunch of the nuts. It can be served as a side or a main.

Serves 4 as a main, 6 as a side

2 cups quinoa

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1½tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, or to taste

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

6 tablespoons pomegranate seeds, plus 2 more tablespoons for serving

3 tablespoons salted pistachios or pine nuts, toasted

3 scallions, chopped 4 ounces feta cheese

1 blood orange, peeled and sliced into rounds (optional)

Extra virgin olive oil, for the orange (optional)

1. Soak the quinoa in cold water to remove its bitterness. Each brand is different, so check the instructions on the package. Then rinse it thoroughly.

2. Bring 3 to 4 cups salted water to a boil. Add the quinoa, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. The quinoa is done when the germ separates from the seed. It should have a little bite to it, too. Strain if necessary. Dress with the olive oil and lemon juice, season with salt and pepper, and set aside to cool.

3. Gently mix the pomegranate seeds, pistachios or pine nuts and scallions into the quinoa. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Place the mixture in a serving dish and place the feta cheese on top. Scatter the last 2 tablespoons of pomegranate seeds over the top, gently break up the feta, and serve.

STANLEY’S TIP
This is delicious served with some sliced blood oranges dressed with extra virgin olive oil.

Posted by Hilli on February 19, 2015

In need of a hearty, healthy meal you can whip up in just a few minutes after work? Molly Gilbert has you covered with this recipe for 'Quick Chicken & Baby Broccoli with Spicy Peanut Sauce' from her new cookbook, Sheet Pan Suppers.

Quick Chicken & Baby Broccoli with Spicy Peanut SauceServes 4

Peanut sauce is like the chocolate sauce of dinnertime. I’m pretty sure I’d eat my shoe if it were covered in enough of it. This satay-inspired dish pairs my beloved peanut sauce with thinly sliced chicken and baby broccoli charred under the broiler. The whole dish cooks in only about 10 minutes but results in juicy chicken, tender broccolini and thick, bubbly sauce. It’s addicting. Keep it away from your shoes.

I’ve seen packaged thin-cut chicken breasts or cutlets at some grocery stores, but you can easily make your own by slicing a regular chicken breast in half horizontally to create two thin-cut pieces.

1. Preheat the oven to broil, with a rack 4 inches from the heat. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil or mist it with cooking spray.

2. Whisk together the brown sugar, peanut butter, sesame oil, soy sauce, sriracha, vinegar, water and lime juice in a medium-size bowl until smooth. Set aside ¼ cup of the peanut sauce for serving.

3. Rub the broccolini and chicken with the remaining peanut sauce to thickly coat, and arrange them in a tight single layer on the prepared pan. Broil, keeping a close eye on the pan to prevent burning, and flipping the chicken halfway through, until the chicken is just cooked through, the broccolini is well charred and the sauce is bubbly and deeply browned, 10 to 12 minutes.

4. Serve the chicken and broccolini hot from the oven with the reserved dipping sauce alongside.

Posted by Hilli on February 12, 2015

You may know celebrated actor Stanley Tucci from his roles in The Lovely Bones and Road to Perdition, but he is also quite a formidable and knowledgable home cook! Co-authored with his wife Felicity Blunt, his second cookbook, The Tucci Table, is a "comfortable, easy-to-approach" guide to an array of Italian, American and British dishes.

Vegetable Parmigiana
Serves 4 to 6

This is a combination of my mother's eggplant Parmigiana and a French tian. With the addition of the potato, this makes a great vegetarian main course or a single side dish that combines a starch and a vegetable.

1 large eggplant, halved lengthwise, then cut lengthwise at an angle into long, ¼-inch-thick slices

2. Spread the eggplant, potato (if using), and zucchini slices on individual baking sheets, one for each ingredient, coat with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and season with salt. Then place them under the broiler until they start to color, 3 to 5 minutes. This will evaporate some of their water so that they don’t go soggy in the final dish.

3. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

4. Combine the bread crumbs, half of the chopped herbs, half of the grated cheese and a dash of salt and pepper in a bowl and set aside.

5. Combine the remaining herb mixture, grated cheese, all of the garlic and a dash of salt and pepper in another bowl.

6. Coat the bottom and sides of a rectangular baking dish with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil.

7. From one short side of the dish, stack the eggplant, zucchini, potato (if using), and tomatoes so that they stand upright on edge against one another. Sprinkle a little of the chopped herb, garlic and cheese mixture in between some of the layers as you work your way across the baking dish.

8. When completed, drizzle the remaining olive oil over the top and sprinkle with the bread-crumb mixture.

9. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Check it just before the end of the baking time. If it looks a little dry, drizzle with a little extra olive oil. Serve warm or at room temperature, not hot.

Posted by Hilli on February 05, 2015

Molly Gilbert makes cooking (and cleanup!) a breeze with 120 sheet pan recipes in her new cookbook, Sheet Pan Suppers. This simple, homey recipe for Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies is sure to become one of your go-to's.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes about 25 cookies

This is a tweaked version of a recipe I got from my friend Jen King, who co-owns Liddabit Sweets, an artisanal confectionery in Brooklyn. They don’t do anything just plain ordinary at Liddabit (hand-dipped candy bars and caramels with beer and pretzels inside, hello) so needless to say, this is one good cookie.

I prefer oatmeal cookies with plentiful chocolate chips, but feel free to substitute raisins if you’re that guy—no judgments. Well, a few judgments. I hope we can still be friends.

1 heaping cup chocolate chips (I like bittersweet, but any kind will do)

Let’s cook:

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F with racks in the upper and lower thirds. Line two sheet pans with parchment paper.

2. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and oats in a medium-size bowl.

3. Beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, or in a large bowl with a handheld electric mixer, on high speed, until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the vanilla, then beat in the eggs, one at a time, until smooth.

4. Add the flour mixture and stir gently with a wooden spoon to combine. Fold in the chocolate chips.

5. Scoop the dough by the heaping tablespoonful onto the pans, leaving about an inch of space between cookies. Flatten each cookie slightly with the palm of your hand (see Note).

6. Bake the cookies until they are slightly puffed and golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes.

7. Let the cookies cool slightly before enjoying warm.

The cookies will keep, in an airtight container at room temperature, for about 1 week.

Note: After you flatten the cookies in Step 4, they may be frozen until solid on the sheet pan, about 30 minutes. Transfer them to a heavy-duty zip-top bag for storage. Bake them right from frozen when you want some; they may take an extra few minutes.

Posted by Hilli on January 22, 2015

Looking for a hearty, soul-warming staple to get you through the final weeks of winter? Then try this Italian-inspired recipe for Hunter's Chicken Stew from our January Top Pick in Cookbooks, The Pollan Family Table.

Our hunter's stew is an Italian take on the classic Polish dish, with chicken as a stand-in for pork. The tender morsels of chicken are smothered in a luscious gravy, making this a dish that the family loves.

In a Dutch oven or a large ovenproof pot, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 4 of the chicken pieces, skin side down. Cook undisturbed until the skin is golden, about 7 minutes. Flip the chicken pieces and cook until brown, about 4 minutes more. Transfer to a platter and repeat with the remaining pieces of chicken. Set aside.

Wipe the Dutch oven clean with paper towels and add the remaining 1 table­spoon of oil. Heat over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onion, mushrooms and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and fragrant, about 8 minutes.

Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the flour is thoroughly mixed with the onion and mushrooms, about 2 minutes. Raise the heat to high and stir in the wine, scraping up any brown bits at the bottom of the pan. Add the chicken broth, tomatoes and their juice, thyme, sage, the bay leaf, 1 ½ teaspoons of salt and ⅛ teaspoon of pepper. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the browned chicken and any accumulated juices, sub­merging the pieces into the liquid. Cover and place the pot in the oven.

Bake until the chicken is tender, about 30 minutes. Take off the lid and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Remove the pot from the oven and, using tongs, transfer the chicken to a platter. Return the pot to the burner, turn the heat to high, and cook until the sauce is thickened, about 4 minutes. Remove the bay leaf. Spoon the mushrooms and sauce over the chicken and serve.

Posted by Hilli on January 15, 2015

Cathy Barrow encourages healthy, local eating for all seasons with her easy recipes for DIY preserving in her newest cookbook, Mrs. Wheelbarrow’s Practical Pantry: Recipes and Techniques for Year-Round Preserving. This quick and no-fuss recipe for Fennel, Orange, and Olive Refrigerator Pickles is a great place for the uninitiated to dive into the world of canning.

This piquant pickle was inspired by a plate of olives, caper berries and bitter oranges served with sherry at an outdoor cafe in Seville. A wide-mouth jar will make this job a little easier. So will long tweezers or a chopstick, if you want to get fancy.

Serve with salty Marcona almonds.

2 medium fennel bulbs (24 oz., 680 g)

1 navel orange

1½ cups (12 oz., 340 g) Cerignola olives, rinsed

1 cup (8 oz., 235 ml) champagne vinegar

1 tablespoon (0.125 oz., 8 g) kosher or pickling salt

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon

1 cup ice cubes

1. Trim the stalks from the fennel and peel away the tough outer sections of the bulb. (Put these parts in a bag in the freezer to make vegetable broth or add to a batch of chicken stock.) Remove about ½ inch of the root end of each fennel bulb, then slice vertically down the center. Set the fennel cut side down on the cutting board and slice wedges from the bulbs.

2. Wash the orange well. Slice into slim 1⁄4-inch rounds, rind and all. Remove any seeds. Cut the slices into half-moons. Press the oranges against the inside of the jar, then fit the fennel wedges into the center of the jar, adding a few olives here and there as you go.

3. In a small saucepan, warm the vinegar, salt, sugar and tarragon, stirring just until the salt and sugar have dissolved. Add the ice cubes and stir until cool.

4. Pour the cooled brine into the jar. Cover and place in a cool, dark spot for 2 days.

5. Chill the pickles before serving. They will keep for up to a month in the refrigerator.

Posted by Hilli on January 08, 2015

The line of customers waiting to get their paws on the sweet and savory treats from Brooklyn's Ovenly bakery often stretches down the block. Can't get to the brick-and-mortar bakery any time soon? Then pick up a copy of founders Agatha Kulaga and Erin Patinkin's debut cookbook, Ovenly. This savory, grown-up version of a childhood favorite may take a bit of extra effort to re-create, but the final product is sure to beat anything you could find in a box.

CARAMEL BACON HOT TARTSYield: 4 Hot Tarts

These Hot Tarts are our mature version of Pop-Tarts. The salty-smooth caramel is followed by a smoky, crispy bacon crunch. A dose of sweet-savory decadence.

Pâte Brisée (see recipe below)

2 slices bacon

1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon light brown sugar

¼ cup + 2 tablespoons chilled Salted Caramel Sauce (see recipe below)

1 large egg yolk, for brushing

1 tablespoon water, for brushing

1. Cook the bacon in a skillet until crisp and done. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel–lined plate to drain off any excess grease. Let cool.

2. Prepare the Pâte Brisée recipe below (you will need only 1 crust, either halve the brisée recipe or save the second crust for later use). Remove 1 disk of the pâte brisée from the refrigerator 10 minutes before rolling.

3. On a lightly floured, clean surface, roll the disk of pâte brisée into an approximate 9 x 15-inch rectangle. To prevent the dough from sticking to the counter and to ensure a uniform thickness, keep lifting and turning the pâte brisée a quarter turn as you roll.

4. Using a ruler, measure the dough and mark a rectangle that is exactly 9 x 15 inches. Then cut the ragged edges off, leaving straight edges, with a knife or pizza cutter. Cut the dough lengthwise every 3¾ inches. This will result in four 3¾ x 9-inch rectangles.

5. Layer ½ strip of bacon on the bottom half of 1 rectangle and then sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the light brown sugar over the bacon. Top with 1½ tablespoons of the chilled Salted Caramel Sauce. Repeat these steps for the remaining 3 rectangles.

6. Using a pastry brush or your finger, brush water on the outer edges of the top half of each rectangle to help seal the edges. Then fold in half, and press the edges together with your fingers to seal.

7. Crimp the edges together with a fork to seal more. With your knife or pizza cutter, remove the ragged edges by cutting the Hot Tarts into perfect 3¾ x 4½-inch rectangles. Using a fork, gently poke a few holes in the top of each Hot Tart.

9. Preheat the oven to 400⁰F. Prepare an egg wash by whisking the egg yolk with the water in a small bowl until smooth.

10. Remove the Hot Tarts from the freezer. Brush them with the egg wash, and bake for 20 to 22 minutes, or until just golden. Let the tarts cool before serving.

PÂTE BRISÉE (FLAKY PIE CRUST)Yield: two 9-inch pie crusts

The mother of all pâte brisée (a fancy French word for “shortcrust pastry”) recipes, we make this in large batches so that we have preportioned crusts on hand at all times—a trick to making pies, quiches and Hot Tarts in a pinch. The recipe can be adjusted for savory pies, and you can experiment with adding whole-wheat flour for nuttiness. Compared to the store-bought version, the flaky texture and buttery goodness of homemade pie crust is unrivaled. You can easily cut the pâte brisée recipes in half if you need only one crust!

1 cup unsalted butter

2½ cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

¼ cup ice water

1. Cut butter into 1-inch cubes, and place in the freezer for 20 minutes or until very cold.

2.In a food processor, add the flour, sugar and salt and process until combined. Add the butter and process until the mixture resembles coarse meal, about 15 seconds.

3. Pour in the ice water through the feed tube in a slow, steady stream, and process until the dough just holds together when pinched. If necessary, add more water. Do not process more than 30 seconds.

4. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and gather it into a ball. Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a 6-inch disk, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight before using. If not using right away, you can freeze unrolled dough for up to 1 month. Just let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

5. After the dough has chilled sufficiently, remove 1 disk from the refrigerator and place it on a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough into a 12-inch circle. To prevent the dough from sticking to your surface and to ensure uniform thickness, keep lifting it up and turning it a quarter turn as you roll. Always roll from the center of the dough outward.

6. Fold the dough in half and gently transfer it to a 9-inch pie pan. Press the dough gently against the sides of the pan. Brush off any excess flour and tuck the overhanging dough under itself, crimping as desired. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes before filling.

7. If you are making a crust to top your pie, remove the second disk of dough from the refrigerator and roll it into a 12-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. You can choose how to top the pie with the crust.

Cover the pie completely with the top crust, pinch the edges of the bottom and top crusts together, and cut 3 to 4 thin steam vents in the center.

Make a lattice.

With a cookie cutter, cut out about 20 shapes. Place the shapes on a parchment–lined rimmed sheet pan, cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before using.

8. Once you fill the pie, cover it with the top crust, using the method of choice, and bake according to recipe instructions.*

*If you have to blind bake your pie crust for an open-faced pie or tart, or for a pie that has a separately prepared filling, lay a piece of parchment twice the width of the pie pan over the crust and then fill the paper with pie weights or dry beans. For a par-baked crust, bake at 425⁰F for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are barely golden. For a fully baked crust, bake at 425⁰F for 20 to 25 minutes until the edges are barely golden. Carefully remove the parchment and weights, reduce the heat to 375⁰F and continue to bake for 5 to 10 minutes more, or until the crust is evenly golden.

Tip: We recommend finishing a filled pie directly on the bottom of the oven floor, or on a pizza stone. It will help the bottom crust to crisp.

SALTED CARAMEL SAUCEYield: approximately 1½ cups

This is Erin’s favorite caramel recipe, and it is the only one you will ever need. It can be used in cakes and buttercreams, spooned onto ice cream, mixed into pie fillings, drizzled onto pudding or eaten straight up with a spoon.

1 cup heavy cream

¼ cup sugar

¼ cup (packed) light brown sugar

4 tablespoons (2 ounces) unsalted butter

3 tablespoons light corn syrup

¼ teaspoon salt

Caviar from ½ vanilla bean pod

1. Bring ½ cup of the cream, sugars, butter, corn syrup and salt to a boil in an uncovered 1½- to 2-quart, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Once the sugars have dissolved, whisk the mixture a few times to combine. Continue to boil the mixture over medium-high heat, whisking occasionally, until deep dark tan bubbles form and until it has thickened and is paste-like.

2. When a candy thermometer reads 250°F (this takes about 5 minutes after the mixture reaches a boil), take the saucepan off the heat. (See note below if not using a thermometer.)

3. Pour in the remaining ½ cup cream and add the vanilla bean caviar, and whisk to incorporate. Be careful, as the mixture will bubble up and can splatter. Return the saucepan to low heat, and bring it to a low boil, whisking vigorously until no visible clumps remain and until the caramel sauce is smooth, about 45 seconds.

4. Immediately pour the hot caramel sauce into a jar or a heatproof bowl, and let it cool completely. Once it has cooled, cover it tightly and store it in the refrigerator or freezer. Reheat to use.

Note:You don’t need a candy thermometer for this recipe as long as you use your nose and your eyes. The key is to take the caramel to a point just short of burning, so when the mixture begins to have a bit of a singed odor and when it looks paste-like and caramel-brown, quickly remove it from the heat.

2. Heat the mixture over medium-high heat. As the ingredients melt, whisk to combine.

3. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil. After about 5 minutes, large tan bubbles will form, and the caramel will be a dark golden brown.

4. Whisk vigorously to check the consistency. The caramel should be paste-like.

5. Remove the saucepan from the heat, and add the remaining ½ cup cream and vanilla bean caviar.

6. Return saucepan to low heat, bringing it to a low simmer and whisking vigorously.

7. Immediately pour the hot caramel sauce into a jar or a heatproof bowl, and let it cool completely. Once it has cooled, cover it tightly and store it in the refrigerator or freezer. Reheat in a microwave or saucepan to use.